Extension housing for dipper-stick of backhoe



April 12, 1 966 J. A RUSSELL EXTENSION HOUSENG FOR DIPPER-STICK OF BACKHOE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1964 JOH/V 4. 20554-24 INVENTOR.

April 1966 J. A. RUSSELL 3,245,559

EXTENSION HOUSING FOR DIPPER-STICK 0F BACKHOE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 dr rae/va April 12, 1966 J. A. RUSSELL EXTENSION HOUSING FOR DIPPER-STICK OF BACKHOE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 4, 1964 JOHN A, eassa;

7 tion with conventional mechanized transpgrt means.

United States Patent 3,245,559 EXTENSION HOUSING FOR DIPPER-STICK 7 OF BACKHOE John A. Russell, 15370 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, Calif. Filed Sept. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 394,417 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-138) This invention relates in general to earth excavating devices, and more particularly to hydraulically maneuverable and operable backhoe equipment having an extendable dipper-stick attachment thereon, for use in conjunc- In operation, the said equipment, among other things, excavates or scoops up various earth materials and discharges or dumps same from the trench created thereby.

In the rapidly expanding land development and construction industries of today, it is often required to quickly and easily excavate various materials from the earth or form tunnels in the earth so that utility pipes or other such improvements may be placed therein. As will hereafter become apparent, there are many other uses for such equipment.

Various excavating devices, including both manual and various attachments to vehicular or transport means, have been employed in the past for digging, lifting, swinging and dumping Work. Utilization of manual devices has resulted in a poor quality of trenching, in addition to being a slow and tedious operation. Apparently, this follows from the general physical limitations inherent in a human being whenever required to directly perform heavy construction work.

When excavating devices have been attached to various vehicular or transport means, including conventional construction tractors, a good quality of trenching has resulted with a considerable saving oftime and human energy. However, several disadvantages evolve from such use which limit greater utilization of the equipment as well as its depth capabilities. The devices include a maneuverable boom member which is ordinarily attached to the transport means and carries a dipper-stick (digging device) that supports-at one end an open-mouth backhoe digging bucket. Prior to the present invention, the length of the combined dipper-stick and bucket was restricted so as not to exceed the length of the boom member. Otherwise, a portion of the combination of dipper-stick and bucket would of necessity trail upon the ground causing damage to the equipment. If greater digging depth was required, the length of the dipper-stick would be increased provided the length of the boom member was correspondingly increased. However, this caused extremely cumbersome equipment. Several attempts have also been made to increase the length of the dipper-stick without increasing the standard length of the boom member, but such efforts resulted in a T-shaped or hook configuration at the joint of the dipper-stick and boom mem her so that the entrenching apparatus could not easily be placed within or extracted from a trench or excavation of relatively limited width or length because the nonbucket carrying end of the dipper-stick would hook at,

"ice

for use with and aflixed to all conventional backhoe equipment without the necessity of increasing the length of the boom member and/or without creating a T-shaped or hook configuration and/ or without causing any portion of the backhoe equipment, including dipper-stick and bucket, to trail upon the ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide a backhoe adapted for attachment to conventional vehicular or transport means which can be easily moved into the desired position and speedily dig more feet of trench than heretofore known and efficiently swing and dump earth material from the trench or excavation created thereby.

An additional object of this invention is to provide backhoe equipment which can be easily placed within or withdrawn from narrowly dimensioned trenches or excavations.

Other and additional objectives and advantages of this present invention are to provide a durable extendable attachment for dipper-sticks of maximum simplicity and efiiciency combined with safety, economy of manufacture and operation, and ease of operation, and such objectives, advantages and capabilities will be readily apparent and better understood by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the backhoe device including the present invention, together with an ordinary backhoe bucket, secured to conventional tractor means;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the extendable modified dipper-stick in its retracted position;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the extendable modified dipper-stick in a partially extended position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line '6-6 of FIGURE 3; and l FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the backhoe equipment while in a trenching or excavating capacity, illustrating several positions of the boom member and extendable modified dipper-stick.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a maneuverable steel boom member 1 is shown in FIGURE 1 pivotly connected at one end thereof to conventional mechanized transport means 2. A maneuverable and modified dipperstick 3 is pivotly connected at one end at point B to the other end of the said boom member 1, and a conventional steel backhoe bucket 4 is pivotly connected by linkage means 5 and 5 and extension member 6 to the other end of the said dipper-stick 3.

Flat triangularly shaped metal frames 7 and 7' are weldably affixed to each side of the said boom member 1 in parallel fashion as shown in FIGURE 1, and the entire combination of boom member 1 and frames 7 and 7 is pivotly connected at point A to the said transport means 2. The said boom member is maneuverable in its vertical plane by means of a hydraulically operated cylinder (not shown) and its associated boom actuating rod (also not shown).

Flat fianging metal side plates 8 and 8' having an'irregular configuration are weldably aflixed to each side of the modified dipper-stick 3 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and the entire combination of side plates 8 and 8', dipper-stick 3, extension member 6 and bucket 4 is pivotly connected to and supported by the said boom member 1 at point B by pinion means 9.- A hydraulically operated cylinder 10 and its associated dipper-stick actuating rod 11 are pivotly connected at one end to the forward common corners of the said frames '7 and 7, and

pivotly attached at their other end to said side plates 8 and 8' at point C by pinion means 12.

A hydraulically operated cylinder 13 and its associated extension member actuating rod 14 are pivotly connected at one end to the upper common corners of side plates 8 and 8','and attached at their other end to the inner sides of the extension member 6 by pinion means 15 as shown .in FIGURE 6. Flat triangularly shaped metal side plates 16 and 16' are weldably afiixed to each side .of the extension member 6 at the rod 14 supporting end thereof. Said plates 16 and 16' have metal bars 17 and 17' weldably attached thereto and extending downward from and perpendicular to the .hypotenuses of the said .plates 16 and 16, and each bar has a roller member 18 and 185, respectively, rollablyaflixed to one side thereof as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6.

Securedly attached'to the tapered endof the dipperstick '3.are guide and support housing means 19 adapted .to slideably receive and support the said extension member 6. Said means comprise a U-shaped casing 20 weld- :ably attached to dipper-stick 3 along its longitudinal edges, four fiat 'metal wear orbearing plates 21a, 21b,

21c'and 21d disposed to lie flat within the double channel configuration created by the said casing 20 and the topside of dipper-stick 3as shown in FIGURE 4, and two steel straps 22 and 23 rigidly fastening the said casing 20 and wear plates 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d about thesaid dipper-stick 3.

As mentioned above, the said bucket 4 is pivotly attached and connected to one end of the extension member 6, and is operable by means of a hydraulically operated cylinder 24 and its associated bucket actuating rod 25 which are pivotly connected at one endto common corners of the said-side plates 16 and 16 bypinion means 26 and pivotly attached at their other end to links and :5 by pinion means 27. Rigid 'guideways 28 zand 29 are weldably afiixed to each side .of the intermediate portion of the dipper-stick 3 vas shownin FIG- URE 1,, and are adapted to rollably or slideably receive therein the said roller members 18 and 18'. Theentire apparatus, to wit: bars 17 .and.17,,', associated roller members 18 and 18', guideways 28 and 29 and guide and support housing means 19, act and cooperate as aligning and support-meansfor the reciprocating motion of the extension-member 6. As a result thereof, any tendency toward wobble,angular displacement or capsizing of the said member-6 is-eliminated. .Further, the extension member 6 is adapted to slide within the said .guide vand support housing means 19 and just overone side .of the dipper-stick 3. Itmay be seen that guideways 28 and 29 are so placed as to-keep the associated sides of the extension member ,6and'wearplate 21b in close relationship or' contact. Thus, additional reinforcement of the equipment, particularly when the extension member 6 is in an extended'position and carries a full bucket 4,- is provided.

Three pairs of retaining members 30 and 31, 32 and '33,. and 3'4and 3'5 areweldably aflixed toopposite ends of the. three sides of the said casing 20 so as to restrict the motion of wearplates 210, 21c and 21d, respectively.

"A stop plate bracket 38 is weldably aflixed to the bottom side of-extension member-6 and is adapted'to accommodate thetapered end portion of dipper-stick 3.

Thus, the movement of the extension member 6 as 'it is retracted by the said cylinder 13 and actuating rod 14 is limited so that thersaid member 6 will not strike the said-cylinder 13.

In operation, the transport means 2 is moved to and positioned over the region to be excavated or tunneled,v

and the operator thereof then approximately sets the boom member 1 over'the designatedarea. If the required depth is within the capability of the dipper-stick 3 alone, without any extension, the operator simply ex cavates'or tunnels the earth by means of manipulating the boom l byits hydraulic cylinder and'associated actuating rod, the dipper-stick 3 by its hydraulic cylinder 10 and associated actuating rod 11 and the bucket 4 by its hydraulic cylinder 24 and associated actuating rod 25. If greater depth to the excavation or tunnel is neces sary, or if the same must be extended in length without moving the transport means 2 to the new position, the operator would utilize the extension member 6 as herein above described. 2 Thus, the dipper-stick 3,'together with the extension member 6,provide a source of substantial additional length for ordinary backhoe equipment. Of course, the bucket 4 is operable by the said cylinder 24 and rod 25 regardless of whether or not the extension member 6 is being utilized. Any'backhoe equipment having conventional dipper-sticks may be modified so as to incorporate this present invention. As may be seen, its use results in a substantial increase in the effective excavating depth of such equipment.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the present disclosure was made only by way of example and that the only limitations to this present invention are those found in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An earth excavating device adapted for use in conjunction with'transport means, said device comprising a maneuverable boom member mounted at one end thereof totransport means; a maneuverable dipper-stick pivotly connected atone endto the other end of said boom member; an extension member mounted on said dipper-stick and adapted to slide over one side of said dipper-stick; a backhoe bucket vpivotly connected to the other end of said dipper-stick; means intercoupling said dipper-stick and said extension member and adapted to slideably advance orretractthe said memberlongitudinally along the axis of the said dipper-stickguide means providedalong opposite exterior sides of said dipper-stick and adapted to slideably receive means connecting said extension member and-bucket actuating means to said dipper-stick; and means for operating said boom member, dipper stick, extension member and bucket.

2. 'Amodified extendable dipper-stick device for use in connection with backhoe equipment, said device comprising a dipper-stick-havingguideways on opposite sides thereof; an extension member adapted to slide 'overthe saiddipper-stick and on a bearing plate securedly attached to the extension membensupporting side of said dipper-stick; hollow iU -shaped .;means attached to one side vof said dipperrstick adapted to support and slide ably receive said extension member; bearing plates securedly attached to the inner-sides of the said U-shaped meansforguiding and supporting said extension member longitudinally :along the axis of said dipper-stick; and

.meansintercoupling said extension member to said guidesupporting-said extension member longitudinally along the axis of said dipper-stick; and means intercoupling the said extension member to'the said guideways of said dipper-stick.

4. An earth excavating. device adapted for use in conjunction with transport means, said device comprising a maneuverable boom member mounted atone end thereof to transport means; amaneuverable dipper-stick pivotly connected at one end to the other end of saidboom member, said dipper-stick-having guideways on opposite exterior sidesthereof; an extension member adapted to slide over said dipper-stick; a U-shaped bracket member attached to said dipper-stick so as to form a hollow enclosure therewith and adapted to slideably receive said extension member; bearing plate means securedly attached to the inner sides of said U-shaped member for guiding and supporting said extension member longitudinally along the axis of said dipper-stick; and means intercoupling said extension member to the said guideways of said dipper-stick.

5. An excavating device as defined in claim 4 wherein bearing plate means are securedly attached to the extension member supporting side of said dipper-stick.

6. A modified extendable dipper-stick as defined in claim 3 wherein a bearing plate is securedly attached to the extension member supporting side of said dipperstick.

7. An earth excavating device adapted for use in conjunction with transport means, said device comprising a maneuverable boom member mounted at one end thereof to transport means; a maneuverable dipper-stick pivotly connected at one end to the other end of said boom member; an extension member mounted on said dipper-stick and adapted to slide over one side of said dipper-stick; a backhoe bucket pivotly connected to the other end of said dipper-stick, means intercoupling said dipper-stick and said extension member and adapted to slideably advance or retract the said extension member longitudinally along the axis of said dipper-stick; giude- Way means provided along opposite nonbearing sides of said dipper-stick adapted to slideably receive means connecting said extension member to said dipper-stick; and means for operating said boom member, dipper stick, extension member and bucket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,607 11/1915 Hoar 214-90 2,411,498 11/1946 Billings 214--138 2,461,978 2/1949 Hall 214-141 3,140,000 7/1964 Pilcil 214138 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EARTH EXCAVATING DEVICE ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRANSPORT MEANS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A MANEUVERABLE BOOM MEMBER MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO TRANSPORT MEANS; A MANEUVERABLE DIPPER-STICK PIVOTLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID BOOM MEMBER; AN EXTENSION MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID DIPPER-STICK AND ADAPTED TO SLIDE OVER ONE SIDE OF SAID DIPPER-STICK; A BACKHOE BUCKET PIVOTLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID DIPPER-STICK; MEANS INTERCOUPLING SAID DIPPER-STICK AND SAID EXTENSION MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO SLIDEABLY ADVANCE OR RETRACT THE SAID MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY ALONG THE AXIS OF SAID DIPPER-STICK GUIDE MEANS PROVIDED ALONG OPPOSITE EXTERIOR SIDES OF SAID DIPPER-STICK AND ADAPTED TO SLIDEABLY RECEIVE MEANS CONNECTING SAID EXTENSION MEMBER AND BUCKET ACTUATING MEANS TO SAID DIPPER-STICK; AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID BOOM MEMBER, DIPPER STICK, EXTENSION MEMBER AND BUCKET. 